Why don't we have efficient electric vehicles or hydrogen fuel cell cars on the market right now?

The oil companies. They are and always have been in bed with the car companies. If the USA would stand up and say this is what has to be done instead of always letting big business make the rules we could have a lot more here.

As far as efficient electric goes, the trend is growing. There were 38% more Hybrids purchased so far in the first quarter of 2008 then there were in the first quarter of 2007.

As far a hydrogen goes, don't hold your breath. Hydrogen is not an answer to our energy dependancy. It takes more energy, (from fossil fuels) to make the stuff, then it itself produces when burned. Second, people have enough trouble filling up their vehicles with gasoline, without blowing themselves up, hydrogen would be worse. Safety wise, would you trust these people to fill up a vehicle with a 4000psi flammable gas connection? Thats the pressure hydrogen has to be around in order to use it as a fuel.

Would you want to be in a hydrogen car with 4000psi flammable gas tank and get in a car accident? What happens to a 4000 psi tank when ruptured violently? On myth busters they knocked the top off of a 250lbs, 300psi air tank and it blew it across the warehouse and through a cinder block wall. That was just 300psi, your talking 4000psi for the fuel tank. KAAABOOOM! No thanks, keep them off the road.

Because we don't have the free market envisioned by the conservatives or the government incentive programs envisioned by the liberals. We subsidize oil companies and have bailed American auto companies out of bankruptcy (not a free market) but at the same time refuse to set mandates with regards to size and fuel efficiency. Its the worst of both systems of governance.

If we're going to be subsidizing anything with tax dollars, it really should be new technology and things that will be more efficient and less harmful, rather than just paying to preserve the status quo.

All electric vehicles have to have their batteries recharged by an electric power source and 70% of that comes from burning coal gas and oil these days. So there's not much of a point for the time being.

Guess who bought up all the Hydrogen producing facilities in the USA? the BIG oil companies!

Because big oil companies have a huge infrastructure already in place for diesel and gasoline. They are not about to change it for nothing.

We won't see very much done with H2 because big oil won't allow it.

Because they do not exist. The key word here is efficient, and that's the problem. Current technology is simply not as efficient as gasoline or diesel power.

Electrifying Times has an interestice article that may shed some light on your question. go to the web site and scroll down to Ralph Nader and GE's HEV. this took place in the early 60's.

Where would the extra electricity and the hydrogen come from? Answer: oil, gas, and coal. Do the math.

There's no places to fill up with hydrogen.

No place to refill hydrogen and extension cords that long are still way expensive.